The A to Z: Bisexuality

Fast Facts:According to the Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law

Self-identified bisexuals make up the largest single population within the GLBT community and 1.8% of the general population in the US.

More women identify as bisexual than lesbian, while fewer men identify as bisexual than gay.

Bisexuality is its own sexual orientation and is often incorrectly viewed as a “phase” to a “stable” gay or lesbian orientation.

Be a Better Ally

Don’t assume that every different-sex couple you see is heterosexual. One’s sexual orientation does not depend on the gender of his or her partner.

Question and challenge negative stereotypes when you encounter them. Bisexuals are not confused, oversexed, or fickle.

Know that no one person represents the entire community. Not all bisexuals fit into a gender binary and not all of them are a particular race or gender. Try to talk in gender-neutral terms: gender identity is separate from sexuality.

Try not to attempt to quantify “how bisexual” one is– and try not to categorize the person as “more gay” or “more straight” by asking sex-based only questions. A person’s sexual identity is not strictly correlated to one’s sexual behaviors or acts.